Image: Bradley Shields | ©
Whio and chicks standing on rock beside river.
Whio Awareness Week 2025 competition
Win for Whio photo competition winners announced.

We were excited to run a whio photo/video competition for Whio Awareness Week this year.

With so many whio fans out there with some amazing observations of whio and cool stories to share from across New Zealand, this year’s Whio Awareness Week Competition 2025 was a great opportunity to encourage participation in whio awareness.

Categories, prizes and winners

We have several prize categories. Each prize pack is designed to help you continue looking out for whio, either by learning more about whio and how they need protecting, or gear to support future adventures.

Visit Whio Forever facebook page to view the winners' images and videos

Category: Delightful Ducklings 'Cutest chick pic'
Prize: Predator Free NZ trapping prize pack, including a Goodnature Rat and Mouse Smart Trap kit, a NZ treasured species poster, and a Predator Free NZ Predator Control Calendar 
Winner: Rachel Woolford – Wellington

Category: Whio Flair 'Most captivating whio photo'
Prize: Go-Pro Hero Action Cam 
Winner: Chris Tuffley – Palmerston North

Category: Fav Whio Film 'Best whio video'
Prize: Go-Pro Hero Action Cam 
Winner: Josh Ferguson – Palmerston North

Category: Catchiest Caption 'Wittiest or most captivating caption submitted with your competition entry on how you looked out for whio'
Prize: $150 Macpac Voucher
Winner: Chris Tuffley – Palmerston North

Category: Wildcard 'Wildest whio photo or video'
Prize: $600 towards two tickets on a whitewater rafting trip anywhere in New Zealand
Winner: Ben Jackson – Christchurch

Category: Wildcard 'Wildest whio photo or video'
Prize: $600 towards two tickets on a whitewater rafting trip anywhere in New Zealand
Winner: Deborah Owen – Auckland

Category: Spot prizes
Prize: Five spot prizes of Whio Forever merch will also be randomly drawn from all valid entries
Winner: Meredith Blogg – Auckland
Winner:
Georgia-Kate Ferguson – Palmerston North
Winner:
Lisa McNabb – Christchurch
Winner:
Natasha Jones – Ohaupo
Winner:
Joseph Resnick – Cromwell

Judging Criteria

Winners were selected on the following judging criteria.

  • Relevance to each of the five category titles.
  • Originality and creativity of photo/video, and description.
  • Reflective of the characteristics of the species or their habitat.